Shay Given today hailed the Republic of Ireland's win over Holland as one of the "greatest results in the history of Irish football."

The Republic's 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over the Dutch at Lansdowne Road saw them guarantee a play-off place, which will most likely be against the third-best Asian qualifiers.

They beat Louis van Gaal's side thanks to a second-half goal from Jason McAteer, despite being down to 10-men following the sending off of Leeds United's Gary Kelly.

That means Holland, who finished fourth in France 98, will most likely not be going to Japan and South Korea next summer, with group favourites Portugal needing just one point to end their World Cup hopes.

"It was probably one of the greatest results in the history of Irish football," said Given, who recorded his fifth clean sheet of the qualifying campaign in the game.

"When you look at the Dutch team they have some fantastic players and they had their chances, but we kept our nerve and went on to win the game thanks to a super goal."

McAteer cannot get a game for Blackburn at the moment but his lack of football did not stop him on Saturday, having been handed a recall by coach Mick McCarthy.

And the winger took his chance when in mattered, coolly hooking in a cross from substitute Steve Finnan.

Holland missed a string of chances - notably through Patrick Kluivert and Manchester United's &#xA3;19 million striker Ruud van Nistlerooy should have had a 63rd minute penalty when Given bundled himover.

Meanwhile, Given's United team-mate Aaron Hughes helped Northern Ireland to a creditable 1-1 draw against Denmark, who had Sunderland goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen stretchered off with a broken nose.

He clashed with Preston defender Colin Murdock early in the game, and will be ruled out of Saturday's visit of Blackburn Rovers. * Newcastle United midfielder Clarence Acuna was booked in Chile's 2-1 friendly win over at World Cup and European Championship holders France in Santiago.